I own a '64 falcon convertable that came out of the factory with a 6cyl/4speed combo. When I purchased it, though, it had a 260V8/3spd in it. I've upgraded all the components to V8 standards, and replaced the 260 with a 289 "early model" engine. But now I've hit a brick wall when I tried to change out the 3spd for a 4spd. I have a Borg Warner with the correct factory numbers and shifter mount for my car, but the transmission mount (or rear engine mount as old Ford literature likes to call it) pushes my tail housing up to the very top of the transmission tunnel. My next step was to buy a transmission mount that came off of a 4spd falcon, thinking that maybe there was a difference between the mounts for a 3spd and 4spd, but, unfortunately they are the same. I've even looked through the Ford Master Parts Catalog for that year, and can't determing where my error is.

The transmission attaches to the transmission mount by what Ford calls the "rear support strap", or a short canteliever type of leaf spring about 7 inches long. The mounting surface on the 4spd is about an inch farther from the driveline centerline than the 3spd, and originally I thought that the transmission mount or the support strap was different to compensate. I haven't verified yet what exact 3spd tranny I had on my car, but will do that tomorrow.

I did check the numbers on the BW, and the numbers on the tail housing matched exactly what the MPC called out. This is why I am so confused!

If you have acess to the MPC, they show a more detailed illustration in the 1965 FALCON catalog.

There are two springs used, the upper -6B056- is unique to the 4/S. There is also a production break 12/16/63. C3DZ 6B056-F (early) is 7 28/64" long and C3DZ 6B056-G (late) is 7 3/8" long.

The lower also uses the same production break 12/16/63. C3DZ 6B066-D (early) is 7.10" long and C4DZ 6B066-B is 7" long.

The insulator used between the sprins is C1DZ 6A061-A which is common to all installations.

If you will notice in the 6A023 application chart, the 4/S application also calls for a rear insulator reinforcement C1SS 6054-A. This strap is not shown in the FALCON ill. but can be viewed in the THUNDERBIRD ill.

There were three rear extension housings (7A039) released for assembly/service, FORD, FAIRLANE and FALCON. The ext.hsg. I.D. nos. will be listed in the text. It may have the incorrect extension housing also.

Here is some more info on my car. The VIN is 4H12U121262. The date code is 29K, and the axle/tranny codes are 5 and 5 respectively. I am guessing that Oct 29th (29K) would be a '63 build year, which would indicate the early upper and lower rear mount springs. The ID tag on my tranny is 3D3-B-1. My MPC shows a tag number of 3O3B-1, but I think it may be a misprint, for my tag is definitely 3D3-B-1. I also have a second 4spd, and it's tag show the exact same thing (as with all the casting numbers mentioned in previous messages).

Does this mean that the early springs, plus the rear insulator reinforcement strap is what I'm missing to finally get everything to hook up properly? All other numbers seem to match. What are the differences between the early components and late components, besides the listed differences in length? Unless I pull these components directly off of a car, how can I recognize them at a swap meet? So many questions!

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